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The fast and the furious: Chevrolet Miray and Colorado Rally Concepts

2011-08-16

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Over the course of its 100-year history, Chevrolet has created and refined an array of startlingly beautiful car designs. Some of these have moved on to become true road legends, such as the Belair, the Suburban, the Corvette, or the Camaro. Though Chevrolet cars are very diverse in their appearance, reflecting the different uses they have, there is a common design and brand DNA and a set of exterior and interior features that distinguishes them from a multitude of competitors.

Among the global Chevrolet design themes in evidence today is a dynamic tension which once again can be sensed across the entire range. Whether it is the Spark mini-car or the Captiva SUV: Chevrolet designs are expressive and assertive, evoking sense of pent-up energy and strength. Likewise, modern Chevrolet designs acknowledge the heritage that made the brand great, revisiting concepts from the past without becoming locked in a retro focus.

Both the Chevrolet Miray and the Colorado Rally Concept, which will celebrate their European premiere in Frankfurt, embody these design principles and take current trends in their respective segment a step into the future. Whereas the powerful Colorado Rally Concept previews the next generation of this midsize pickup truck, the futuristic-looking Chevrolet Miray merges a jet-inspired exterior with an advanced hybrid powertrain technology.

Chevrolet Colorado: Broad-shouldered proportions, tightly wrapped bodywork

Sitting atop an AWD chassis, the double-cab Colorado Rally Concept, first revealed at the Buenos Aires International Auto Show, conveys strength through every square centimeter of its bodywork. With its wide, confident posture, 18-inch aluminum wheels with mud terrain tires and racing shocks, the second show version of the Colorado midsize pickup truck communicates durability and performance. The first Colorado truck was unveiled at the Bangkok Motor Show in April this year.

"Chevrolet has built trucks right from the start and they are an essential part of our brand. Through its purposeful design, refinement and uncompromising capability, the Colorado Rally Concept creatively reinterprets our proud heritage," said Wayne Brannon, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe.

Large headlamps with LED lighting elements, Chevrolet's signature dual-port grille, a carefully sculpted hood and muscular fiberglass fenders define the Colorado's front appearance. Two additional lights let into the front edge of the roof and into the side mirrors, acrylic rally-car windows with air inlets and front and rear tow hooks underscore the car's off-road credentials. The Colorado Rally Concept is powered by a 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine and sports two 5.5 hp winches that have been incorporated into its front and rear bumpers.

While the Colorado's bodywork is painted with a triple coat of pearl white and sprinkles of 'golden' particles, its roof and bumpers, the stylized roll-bar as well as the inside of its load bay, which carries a spare tire and tool boxes, are made of charcoal-colored plastic. The decklid has two large openings for improved aerodynamic performance and a better rear view. Other fine details include the exposed fuel cap and, of course, the Chevy bowtie that is proudly emblazoned on the front and the decklid.

Inside, designers focused on ergonomics, safety and functionality. A dark, ash-grey color dominates the interior, which contrasts nicely with the silver painted roll cage and other metal details. The occupants sit in neoprene-lined seats with orange stitching whereas the upper instrument panel is made of textured leather.

A high-performance steering wheel designed for aggressive handling helps the driver navigate the truck through rough terrain. It features integrated LEDs that function as a quick display tachometer. Direction-finding assistance is provided by a satellite navigation system positioned in front of the navigator. The Colorado's five-point seatbelts are directly attached to the roll cage. Meanwhile, a dedicated fire-extinguishing system ensures that any fire in the passenger cabin and the engine compartment is quickly brought under control.

Further interior highlights include:

• A master switch that is integrated to the center stack. It has two key functions: starting the engine and disconnecting every system in the vehicle, in case of an emergency.
• An "air boost" system that quickly cleans the cabin after the car has entered a dust cloud during an off-road chase.
• A hydration pack positioned behind each seat. A food solution is delivered to the occupants through a small tube.

Chevrolet Miray: Strengthening the bond between car and driver

First unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show in March this year, the Chevrolet Miray concept offers a fresh interpretation of some typical Chevrolet design cues while paying tribute to Chevrolet's sports car heritage. The Miray is propelled by two front-mounted, battery-powered 15-kW electric motors for quick acceleration and zero emissions in urban driving.

"'Miray' is Korean for 'future.' The concept strengthens the bond between car and driver and takes a fresh look at what a sports cars of the future might be," explains Brannon. "Many of the components used in its drivetrain are an extension of our systems. The Miray demonstrates the potential for rescaling and extending today's propulsion technologies."

Being small and open like the 1963 Monza SS, and light and purposeful like the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, the Miray has an aerodynamic fuselage reminiscent of modern jet fighters. Its dual-port grille is flanked by LED headlamps with new signature daytime running lamps. The front and rear fenders evoke Chevrolet Corvettes of the past and express the concept's sports car spirit. Carbon fiber spoilers at the corners help control down force and airflow. From above, the cabin has a unique diamond shape.

The wedged body side is made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) and carbon fiber. An angled character line, with ambient lighting underneath, creates a sweeping line of light when the car is in motion, bringing a warm glow to the sculptured body. Le Mans racer-style scissor doors underscore the Miray's racy looks.

At the rear, the tail lamps which have been placed under the ducktail surface are a nod to Chevrolet's twin element execution. The Miray sports 20-inch front wheels and 21-inch rear wheels made of aluminum carbon-fiber composite. The strong turbine theme evokes movement, even when the Miray is stationary.

A radically stylish interior

The interior of the Miray features a melange of brushed aluminum, natural leather, white fabric and liquid metal surfaces for an overall effect of sculptural velocity. Its passenger compartment is surrounded by a carbon-fiber shell, which gives it a lightweight yet rigid structure. The wrap-around twin cockpit has drawn inspiration from the iconic Chevrolet Corvette: It is driver-focused while fully engaging the passenger in the driving experience.

Designers took a unique approach to displaying information, using back projection on the instrument panel. Information in front of the driver has been prioritized into three zones, which eliminates unnecessary visual clutter and allows the driver to focus on the thrill of driving.

The center touch screen flows down to an aluminum support, which evokes a fighter jet's nose with the landing gear down. The exterior surface flows down into the interior to meet the reinforced console, connecting the front and rear of the car.

Ambient lighting, which starts from the upper instrument panel and flows into the seat back area, adds a sense of luxury. Seat cushions and headrests are connected by the lightweight carbon-fiber shell and mounted on a single aluminum rail. The headrest area follows the exterior form, integrating with an air scarf for open-air driving.

An interesting detail is the centrally located start button. When it is pressed, the column-mounted retractable meter cluster rises like the canopy of a single-seat aircraft and "interactive projection" appears on the white surface.

Retractable rearview cameras, which replace traditional rearview mirrors, extend from the side glass electrically. In city driving, the forward-facing camera operates in conjunction with GPS to overlay navigation information with real-time video.

Flexible propulsion system raises matches Miray's futuristic looks

The Miray's "mid-electric" propulsion system, located primarily behind and beneath the driver, has been engineered to maximize performance and fuel efficiency. Its two front-mounted 15-kW electric motors are powered by a 1.6 kWh lithium-ion battery that is charged through regenerative braking energy. The system can be switched from front-wheel to rear-wheel drive.

A 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo-charged engine mounted behind the cockpit combines with the electric motors for performance driving. It provides spirited torque, while seamlessly integrating electrification technology that sets a new standard in the compact roadster segment.

A dual-clutch transmission obviates the need for a torque converter, thereby enabling a reduction of the engine's size. Shifts are quick and firm, with the shift pattern having been tuned for improved top speed in performance mode. A start-stop system operates in conjunction with the Miray's dual-clutch transmission.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is General Motors' largest global brand with annual sales of about 4 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. It is the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Chevrolet cars combine passion, bold design and practicality. They provide outstanding value for money. After re-launching the brand in Europe in 2005, Chevrolet more than doubled its sales to over 500,000 in 2008. In 2010, Chevrolet grew its market share in Europe to 2.5 percent, selling 477,194 cars. Chevrolet has a network of more than 2,700 dealers and service points in Europe. The Chevrolet line-up includes the Spark city car, the small Aveo, the compact four-door Cruze, the Captiva SUV and the legendary Corvette sports car. In 2011, Chevrolet is launching seven new cars: the all-new Orlando family van, the new Captiva SUV, the Corvette Grand Sport Coupé, the all-new five-door and four-door Aveo, the five-door Cruze, the Camaro coupé and convertible and the award-winning extended-range Volt electric car. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and Turkey. Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is celebrating its centenary in 2011. More information on Chevrolet can be found at www.chevroleteurope.com or media.chevroleteurope.com.